TRANMERE Rovers Supporters Trust has vowed to continue with its plan to take the club into community ownership – even though a fundraising bid failed to raise enough support.

The trust needed to raise £500,000 by the end of 2013 and had urged Rovers' fans to unite behind their efforts to "put the club's future in the hands of those with its best interests at heart."

But the drive, launched late last year, managed only to raise £172,000.

More than 700 people donated to the campaign but during the trust's annual meeting on Saturday, board members decided the best option would be to wait for further developments.

Chairman Ben Harrison admitted the amount raised was "disappointing" but added: “The mood of members at the meeting was to keep the money.

"We're not going to give up. We want this to work, but in order to do so we’d need to produce a business plan.

"Tranmere chairman Peter Johnson had told us that he didn't see us as a viable option and said he has further options for buyers.

"We will wait to see how this develops."